‘Project Runway’ Recap: Shocking Elimination Before Fashion Week

Time for a trip! The designers are heading to Los Angeles to create a glam, red carpet look — what a treat! It’s the last challenge before New York Fashion Week, so this will make or break it — there’s three spots and four designers left…and a shocking elimination rocked this week’s episode.

The designers, (and Tim Gunn!), pack their bags and head to sunny LA. Up for grabs is 100 free nights at any Best Western — how amazing is that? The designers head to a house in the Hollywood Hills to get inspired for their “biggest challenge yet” according to Tim. It’s down to four designers, but only there’s only three spots for New York Fashion Week — and it’s really anyone’s game at this point. Read on to find out what happened in our Project Runway recap!

The designers get super inspired and head to Mood, where they have a major budget of $400. While Kelly decides to scrap her gown and craft a jumpsuit, Edmond gets scissors happy. At first he can’t decide if he should play it safe with a traditional red carpet gown or totally take a risk with multi-colored, sequin fabric — well, sequin fabric it is! Edmond decides to cut up the dress, turning the gown into a thigh-grazing mini — now that’s definitely a risk. I’m not feeling the bell sleeves or the fabric, and I know he has so much potential. Hmm.

The designers head back to NYC, where they just have time to fit their models and polish off their looks — and while Candice and Kelly seem to have a clear vision, Edmond and Ashley are definitely struggling a bit. Kelly is so meticulous, making sure her jumpsuit is perfect — I love this side of her!

Edmond gets emotional in his confessional before the runway show — it’s definitely show time for the remaining designers! We’re in for a treat — this week, the special guest is former Runway alum Christian Siriano! Heidi reminds the designers that Tim does still have the “Tim Gunn Save” which he has yet to use all season — but that doesn’t mean he has to.

Now I love everything about red carpet glamour, (it’s literally my job), so I’m beyond excited for this runway show. While Ashley seemed nervous and uncertain, I must say I’m impressed when her dress comes down the runway. The color and sexy cut had a Versace vibe — and we all know Heidi can’t turn down a sexy silhouette on the red carpet — or the runway, for that matter.

Time for the critiques: Candice thanks the judges and tells them she wanted to show them that she can design a sophisticated gown — and Heidi definitely thinks she did. Zac Posen says she played it safe, but called it “red carpet ready.” Nina Garcia points out the obvious — it’s not on the top of the best dressed list, but it’s beyond gorgeous.

“Kelly you keep surprising me in a really good way,” Heidi says. “It is good, it’s really good.” Christian Siriano says her look is the only one without a fit issue on the runway — and Zac is so impressed with how she grew as a designer. “You’ve surprised us all,” Nina said, saying she “really blossomed in front of our eyes.” It’s so true, too! Kelly’s determination and talent pushed her to the front of the pack in this competition.

“I’ve worn a dress like that so many times,” Heidi says of Edmond’s creation. Nina calls it the biggest disappoint from him all season, but appreciates that he did take a risk, although the fabric obviously took over. Zac and Heidi agree that they were all surprised that he sent this dress down the runway — that can’t be good. I’m feeling Swapnil 2.0 here in that he didn’t live up to his potential, but definitely not on purpose — he psyched himself out and couldn’t wrap his head around the challenge.

Ashley’s dress is well-received by Nina and Christian. Zac doesn’t think it’s a good fabric for the red carpet. Heidi loves the fabric — she says the model looks “smoking hot.” She calls it “incredible.”

The models leave the runway and the designers tell the judges why they think they deserve to go to fashion week. Honestly this final four feels so close — closer than ever before on the competition. At this point, I can’t imagine any of them going home.

Edmond’s sparkly dress came at the worst time — two days and $400 and that’s all he came up with? While the judges really want to see what he can send down the runway during fashion week, they also have to be fair — and he did the worst job this week.

Candice is the first designer to make it to fashion week. Kelly is the winner of the challenge — that’s three in a row! She gets the 100 free nights at Best Western, she gets to go to fashion week…Kelly is not going back to the deli. I’m so impressed with how she’s grown throughout the competition and can’t wait to see what happens at fashion week.

It comes down to Ashley and Edmond — and unfortunately Edmond is out. This moment is so emotional! Tim Gunn has to swoop in with the save — but will he?! I guess we’ll have to wait for next week to find out.